Unified Drupal Platform Powers 8 Heritage Websites for BANES Council

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Heritage Services needed to replace eight Drupal 7 websites ahead of end-of-life support. The goal was to modernise the digital experience, support ticket sales and brand visibility, and improve performance across devices. Partnering with Opencentric, the council migrated to a single Drupal 9 multidomain platform that now powers sites for institutions such as the Roman Baths, Victoria Art Gallery, and the Fashion Museum Bath.

The project began with a detailed discovery phase involving eight departments, user personas, and prioritised goals. Using an Agile methodology, Opencentric developed brand-aligned, user-centred websites with responsive design and WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility compliance. New features included an improved ticketing system, enhanced media components, Apache Solr-powered search, and streamlined content migration from Drupal 7 with zero downtime.

With the unified platform in place, security patching became faster and more efficient, freeing time for further enhancements. All eight websites scored 100% on Google PageSpeed Insights for Accessibility, SEO, and Best Practices. Users can now access key content in three clicks or fewer, improving overall usability and satisfaction.

Since launch, the council has recorded significant growth in engagement and sales. The Roman Baths and Victoria Art Gallery each saw a 10% increase in ticket purchases, reinforcing the impact of better design and infrastructure. The project demonstrates how a well-executed Drupal migration and platform consolidation can deliver measurable benefits for public sector organisations.

• BANES Council
• Bath Film Office
• Bath Record Office
• Roman Baths
• Fashion Museum Bath
• Victoria Art Gallery
• Bath Historic Venues
• Bath World Heritage Site